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Six (or so) things a TV fan should do in San Diego

The title’s a bit of a misnomer because, really, it’s more like “six (or so) panels a TV fan should attend.” There are plenty of other TV-related things you could do at Comic-Con, like get autographs from actors or producers, grab free swag, stalk celebrities …

Wait, not the last one.

So, anyway. Yeah. Six (or so) panels you should attend if you’re a TV junkie:

1. Marvel Animation: This is where you’ll get the first look at Marvel Anime from Japanese animation studio Madhouse, and the next Marvel Animated Feature from Lionsgate. Also: Warren Ellis. (4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Room 6BCF)

2. Lost: The Final Season Begins: I’m guessing you’ll want to arrive early for Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse’s final Comic-Con appearance for Lost. (11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Hall H)

3. Futurama: Life or Death?! Judging from online reaction to Fox’s casting call for new voice actors, this could be one lively panel. Even if fans don’t riot, it’s worth attending for executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio and Maurice LaMarche. (1 to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Ballroom 20)

4. True Blood Panel and Q&A Session: This HBO series is such a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes, it’s trashy, and some of the acting is questionable (to say nothing of the accents). But I don’t care. The description for this panel doesn’t make it clear who from the show will be attending; it just lists most of the cast. If you’re lucky, they’ll all be there. (5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Ballroom 20)

5. Doctor Who: Fans get writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies and actor David Tennant, in a bit of a farewell tour. (There’s also the screening of Torchwood: Children of Earth and Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead on Saturday evening.) (10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Ballroom 20)

6. BBC America: Being Human/Torchwood: Speaking of Torchwood, BBC America pairs the Doctor Who spin-off with the twentysomethings supernatural drama Being Human in this panel that features Torchwood actor John Barrowman and creator/writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies, among others. (2:15 to 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Ballroom 20)

From here, I’m cheating on the “Six ___” format, but here are a few more panels that are worth checking out:

7. Farscape 10th-Anniversary Panel: I’ve never seen an episode, but I know plenty of people who are devoted to this science-fiction series, which was abruptly canceled after its fourth season. This panel reunites executive producer/director Brian Henson, creator/writer Rockne O’Bannon and actors Ben Browder and Claudia Black. (10 to 11:15 a.m. Friday, Room 6BCF)

8. Glee: A musical comedy-drama feels more than a little out of place at Comic-Con but, hey, at least Fox is putting some marketing muscle behind the series, which gets its official debut this fall. I enjoyed the preview the network aired this spring, even if it felt like they were trying to cover too much ground in too little time. If I were in San Diego, I’d likely be near the front of the line for this panel. (1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Indigo Ballroom/Hilton Bayfront)

9. Adult Swim Development: The Venture Bros. Panel: I’m a huge fan of The Venture Bros., and there’s no way I’d pass up a chance to see creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer and voice actors James Urbaniak and Mike Sinterniklaas — even though their appearance overlaps with the True Blood panel. (6 to 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Room 6A)